Wrapping machines



W. HOPPE WRAPPING MACHINES March 24, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 1. 1956 INVENTOR MAL/AM flopae q M ATTORNEYS March 24, 1959 w. HOPPE WRAPPING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 1, 1956 INVENTOR M/ILL /A M //0FP 7714K ATTORNEYS March 24, 1959 w. HOPPE 2,878,629

WRAPPING MACHINES Filed Oct. 1, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR Mum/v l/oPp:

March 24, 1 w. HOPPE 2,878,629

WRAPPING MACHINES Filed Oct. 1, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR W14 l/AM //0PP ATTORNEYS WRAPPING MACHINES William Hoppe, Longmeadow, Mass, assignor to Package Machinery Company, East Longmeadow, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application October 1, 1956, Serial No. 618,417

Claims. (Cl. 53-51) The present invention relates to article wrapping machines of the type wherein an article is enfolded about its girth by the leading end of a web of sheet material and more particularly to improved means for locating panels printed on such webs with respect to successive articles regardless of variations in their girths.

While wrapping of articles is, by nature, a cyclical operation by reason of the necessity for manipulating successive articles, nonetheless rapid operation or production rates are provided by the type of machines exemplified in my US Patent No. 2,347,560, wherein it will be noted that the article being wrapped is enfolded in the leading end of a web drawn from a remote supply roll and the amount of web wrapped about the article is dependent upon the girth of the article. Such an arrangement is particularly useful in wrapping articles such as loaves of bread whose girths often vary an appreciable amount. On the other hand any printed material such as printed panels on the web will be located at random on successive articles due to the variations between the girths and the amount of web wrapped around each. This result is of no consequence with certain types of wrapper design, however it is now felt that greater sales effectiveness and asthetic value is obtained in having printed material, such as panels, in a definite relation to the article.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide improved means for locating printed panels so that they will be located in substantially the same relation to successive articles regardless of any variations in their girth.

It is a further object of the invention to provide such improved means which are particularly adapted, though not necessarily limited, for use in combination with the type of machine shown in the above noted patent and which can be used in such combination without affecting to any substantial degree the speed of operation of such machine.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide such locating means which are simpler and more economical than anything heretofore devised.

The invention in one of its aspects contemplates an article wrapping machine having means for wrapping the leading end of a continuous web of sheet material about the girth of an article, the sheet material having printed panels to be positioned in a desired relation with respect to successive articles regardless of variations of their girth and indic ia-in fixed relation respectively to each printed panel. Therewith is provided the combination of means for cutting off the leading end of the web after it has been at least partially wrapped about an article which means are actuated in response to the passage of an indicium past a point remote from the cutting off means. The web is thus cut in predetermined relation to each panel thereon so that the panels may be automatically positioned as further articles are enfolded in the web.

Another aspect of the invention is found in a wrapping machine having wrapping means and panelled web as 2,878,629 Patented Mar. 24, 1959 described above, wherein there is provided means for automatically severing theweb in predetermined relationship to the'panels thereon and also means for positioning the panel on successive article's proportionately to their heights.

Yet another aspect of the invention is found in a wrapping machine having means for folding a panelled webas described above and severing the web in response to the passage of an indicium past a detection station remote from the cutting elf means and further having means for actuating the out 01f means in case of failure to detect the passage of indicium at the detection station or for any other reason which might cause the first-mentioned means to be inoperative thereby limiting the amount of web which may be wrapped around any individual article and assuring continued operation of the wrapping machine.

The above and other related objects and aspectsof myv invention will be apparent from a reading of the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment, with reference to the accompanying drawings, and the particular novelty thereof pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. l is a view in longitudinal section showing the various instrumentalities employed in a wrapping machine for enfolding an article in the leading end of a continuous web of sheet-material and including a preferred embodiment of my improved means for locating panels on said web with respect to the articles being wrapped and including a superposed electrical circuit diagram;

Fig. 2 is a view taken in the direction of the arrow A in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a View showing a cam control system seen in Fig. l but in an alternative position;

Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 in Fig. I;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatical showing of certain instrumentalities shown in Fig. l but in alternative operating positions; and

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 illustrate the manner in which articles of varying girths are wrapped and the relation of panels printed on the wrappers to such varying sized articles.

My invention, for illustrative purposes only, is shown as it would be incorporated in a machine generally corresponding to the type of wrapping machine disclosed in my earlier US. Patent No. 2,347,560, modified by certain improvements shown in my U.S. Patent No. 2,434,616 and references made thereto for constructional details not essential to the present invention.

In this type of machine a continuous Web W of sheet material extends from a supply roll (not shown) and over a composite platform 26 with its leading edge suspended (indicated in dash lines in Fig. l) at an infeed station 22. Articles to .be wrapped are carried to the infeed station 22 in any suitable manner, as bya cross feed conveyor 24 which positions articles, such as loaves of bread B, centrally of the infeed station 22 and in front of a pusher 26. The pusher-26, in each machine cycle,

is automatically operated to displace the positioned article from the infeed station 22 toward an elevator 28. As

the article is so moved it confines the Web against a yield ingly mounted back up plate 30 thereby gripping the web.

Further motion of the pusher 26 carries the article inwardly onto the elevator'ZS with the web always confined against the back up plate 30. The pusher 26 is then retracted towards its original position andonce having cleared the elevator, automatic means raise the elevator to a discharge station 34.

When the elevator 28 is so lifted the web is engaged- 1. This movement of the under lap roll 36 pulls a substantially fixed length of web from the supply ramp increasing the amount drawn therefrom as the web is wrapped around the article. Upon arrival of the elevator 28 at the discharge station 34 the web is further wrapped around the article as indicated in the full line position in Fig. 1. When so wrapped, means more fully described below, actuate a knife 37 to sever the partially wrapped web. Thereafter means clearly shown in my U. S. Patent No. 2,347,560 displace the back up plate 30 to the outer edge of the elevator where other means carry the article to further folding instrumentalities to complete the wrapping operation. At substantially the same time the under lap roll 36 moves rapidly downwardly to dispose the web in the dashed line position shown in Fig. 1 and thereafter moves upwardly to its dashed position in that figure, as the elevator 28 returns to an article receiving position at the infeed station 22 to complete a machine cycle.

The web W is provided with printed panels P as indi cated in Fig. 2 which are to be positioned on the articles in a given relationship. If each article had the same girth there would be no problem in maintaining the desired relationship once proper registration of the panels on the articles had been established since all of the movements of the machine may be made constant. However, in the case of bread as well as many other articles, there is a substantial girth variation from article to article and since machines, of the type herein referred to, pull amounts of web sufiicient to encircle the girth of the article plus allowing for a fixed overlap the registration of any printed panel on articles of varying girth would soon become a random affair. In order to overcome such random disposition of the panels on successive articles, the web W is provided with indicia I in predetermined relation respectively with each panel on the web. These indicia I may take the form of a spot of contrasting color on the web, as shown in Fig. 2., The disposition of an indicium to a respective printed panel is such that when the elevator 28 is at the discharge station 34 and sometime during outward discharge move ment of the back up plate 30, the indicium will pass beneath a detection station 38 which senses passage of the indicium and actuates through a linkage arrangement described below, the knife 37 to sever the web W so that it may be disposed by the under lap roll 36 at the infeed station 22 with a panel positioned thereat in predetermined relationship. In practice, each indicium I will travel a short fixed distance beyond the pick up point beneath the detection station 38 (as is shown in Fig. after causing actuation of the knife 37.

Where the indiciaI take the form of spots of contrasting color on the web W, the detection station 38 may comprise light-sensitive, photo-electric cell 39 mounted on a cross rail 40 which is carried by standards 42 which are slidably mounted on rails 42 at either side of the platform 20. If desired a white transverse member 45 may be incorporated in the platform 20 to increase the efliciency of the light-sensitive cell 39. Said light-sensitive cell may be positioned transversely of the web by a screw 44 carried by a cell mounting bracket 46 and bearing against the cross member 40. The light-sensitive cell 39 may be adjusted longitudinally by rotation of a knob 48 which in turn rotates pinions 50 engaging with racks 52 secured to each rail 43. The transverse adjustment enables the cell 39 to be brought into the path of movement of the indicia I on any given width of web, while the longitudinal adjustment provided by the knob 48 enables accurate positioning of the printed panels P at the infeed station 22. Passage of an indicium I beneath the light-sensitive cell 39 produces a sensing, which through conventional means, may be transmitted in the form of a pulse of electric current to momentarily complete an electric circuit through wires m and n and energize a knife actuating solenoid S.

The means for actuating the knife 37 may comprise the solenoid S mounted in fixed relation to the machine and connected electricallyfas diagrammatically shown in Fig. 1, to the light-sensitive cell 39 and a source of electrical potential. Upon energization of the solenoid S, its plunger 54 is drawn upwardly rotating a lever 56, connected thereto by a slotted link 57, upwardly about a fixed stud 58. Upward rotative movement of the lever 56 brings a latching lug 60 projecting therefrom out of obstructive relation with a lever 62 allowing the lever 62 to rotate a shaft 64, journaled at either side of the machine, in a clockwise direction. Extending from the same hub as the lever 62 is a roll carrying arm 68, while adjacent thereto a knife actuating lever 70 is secured to the shaft 64. At the outer end of the lever 70 there is connected a link 72 which extends upwardly and connects with one leg of a three-legged bell crank 74 to which one end of the knife 37 is also attached. At the opposite side of the machine a corresponding lever 70 is secured to the shaft 64 which connects through a second link 72 to another bell crank 74 (none of these corresponding elements are shown) which carries the other end of the knife 37. Bell crank 74 pivots about a fixed stud 76 and has also connected thereto a link 78 which is connected to an arm 80 pivotally mounted on a fixed shaft 82 also pivotally mounted on said shaft is a paper brake arm 84 carrying one end of a paper brake 85. An adjustable screw 86 is threaded through the arm 80 and arranged to bear against a lever 88 integral with the paper brake arm 84 and normally maintain the paper brake out of engagement with the web W overcoming the influence of a spring 90 secured to an extension 92 of the arm 84 and urging the brake into braking engagement with the web W. Corresponding elements 76, 78, 80, 82, 86, 88 and 90 are provided, though not shown, at the opposite side of the machine for carrying and controlling the other end of the paper brake 85.

Rotative motion of the levers 62 and 70 and the follower arm 80 is further controlled by a cam 94 secured to a shaft 95 journaled in the main frames of the machine. The major portion of the cam 94 is arranged to maintain the follower arm 68 in its full line position as shown in Fig. 1, however, there is provided a surface variation in said cam by way of a depression having a maximum depth extending through an angle of about 20 which permits said arm to rotate in a clockwise direction to the dash line position shown in Fig. 1. Thus, when the solenoid S is actuated in response to a sensing at the detection station and the lug 60 is pulled out of obstructive relation the follower arm 68 will rotate in a counter-clockwise direction until its follower 96 engages the surface depression in the cam 94. This rotativc movement under the influence of spring 66 pulls the links 72 downwardly rotating the bell cranks 74 in a counterclockwise direction causing the arms 80 to move in a clockwise direction allowing the paper brake 85 to engage the web W and thereafter the portion of said web extending from the discharge station 34 is severed by the knife 37. It is to be noted that said knife was actuated in response to the passage of an indicium past the detection station 38. The web is therefore severed in predetermined relationship to a panel P printed thereon and since the length of the web between the knife 37 around the roll 36 and back to the detection station 38 is substantially constant for reasons more fully explained hereinafter, the printed panel will be suspended at the infeed station 22 in predetermined relation thereto.

In order to avoid any undue shock when the cam 94 engages the follower 96 a dash pot 97 is mounted on a fixed bracket 99. Also integral with the levers 62 and 70 and roller arm 68 is a further lever 101 which bears against a plunger 103 extending from the dash pot 97. The dash pot is arranged to allow movement of the arm 101 in substantially unrestricted fashion until the roller 96 is a very short distance from the cam 94 and then U greatly increased resistance to further motion is provided by said dash pot thus minimizing the shock of engagement between the roll 96 and cam 94.

'It will be apparent that the severing action of the knife 37 may occur at varying times in the machine cycle depending upon the girth of the article around which the web has been wrapped. If an article of relatively small girth is being wrapped it will take longer for the back up plate 30 to discharge the article from the discharge station 34 a distance sufiicient to draw the web along the ramp 20 a distance sufficient to bring the indicium to the detection station. On the other hand a larger article will bring the indicium to the detection station 38 at an earlier point in the machine cycle. It has been found that this variation will occur in most instances during a given 20 of the machine cycle. This accounts for the variation of dip in the cam 94 being extended over approximately 20. The result of this arrangement is that the under lap of the web around an article is substantially constant except as it may be modified by heightwisc variations explained more fully below and the effect of the arrangement is also to cut a predetermined length of material from the web W. Any excesses of material caused by variations in the girths of the' articles will be reflected in increasing overlaps as can best be seen in Figs. 6, 7 and 8. This arrangement further assures a panel P substantially central thereon regardless of the girth variations between said articles. In case of failure of an indicium to be sensed by the detection station 38, as might be caused by an excessively small article, or if for any other reason the above described means fails to actuate the knife 37 there are further actuating means provided to limit the amount of web which may be wrapped around any given article. These means comprise a finger 98 secured to the rotating cam shaft 95 and an arm 100 integral with the hub of the lever 56. The finger 98 is arranged to engage the arm 100 and raise the lug 60 out of obstructive relation with the lever 62 at the last possible instant in the machine cycle at which the roller 96 may drop to the depression in the cam 94 and thereby through the links 72 actuate the knife 37 to sever the web W.

The knife actuating means controlled by the cam 94 and the supplemental actuation means provided by the finger 98 further combine to provide for continued operation of the wrapping machine where indicia fail to appear at the detection station 38 when it is necessary in the cyclical operation that the web be cut so that an article may be carried away from the discharge station 34. This can occur primarily for two different reasons, one where an extremely small article is being wrapped and the other where a new web is being introduced into the machine, the latter operation is also greatly facilitated by the operation of these two actuation means. In any event, when such failure occurs, the web W will be severed in response to the finger'98 engaging the arm 100 allowing the cam roll 96 to engage the cam 94. When the knife is actuated in this manner the maximum amount of overlap is folded on the article carried away from the discharge station 34. During the next cyclical operation of the machine in which the web W will be drawn along the platform 20 as a succeeding article is infolded in the web an indicia I will pass beneath the detection station 38 before the elevator 28 reaches the discharge station 34, thus causing a sensing by the lightsensitive cell 39 which in turn will actuate the solenoid S. However, the knife itself will not be actuated since the cam roll 96 will be bearing against the raised surface of the cam 94 thereby preventing rotation of the lever 70 and the links 72. Since a maximum amount of overlap is being provided for each article when the knife 37 is actuated by the finger 98 and such maximum amount is greater than that necessary for wrapping articles of average size, in a short time an indicium I will pass beneath the detection station 38 at a time when cyclical operation of the machine brings the depression of the cam 94 into a position in which rotative motion of the levers 62 and 70 and arm 68 is permitted for actuation of the knife 37. Once actuation of the knife 37 is controlled by passage of an indicium past the detection station 38, each actuation of the knife 37 thereafter will sever the web W so that it may be positioned at the infeed station 22 with a printed panel P in predetermined relationship thereto.

The underlap roll 36 is carried by a shaft 102 extending between levers 104 on either side of the machine which are secured to a fixed shaft 106 journaled in the main frames of the machine. Integral with the hub of one lever 104 is a lever 108 having pivotally connected to its upper end a link 110 which connects with a further lever 112 pivoted about a fixed stud 114. The link 110 may be adjusted inwardly and outwardly of the lever 112 to adjust the throw of the underlap roll 36 in a manner well shown in my above mentioned US. Patent No. 2,434,616. Integral with the hub of the lever 112 is a roller arm 116 carrying at its outer end a cam roll or follower 118 which bears against cam 120 also secured to the shaft 95. The

cam 120 (Fig. 1) is formed to bring the underlap roll 36 to an uppermost position shown in dashed lines in Fig. 1 when the elevator 28 is in an article receiving position (indicated in dash lines in Fig. 1) at the infeed station22.

After an article has been transferred to the elevator and it begins its upward movement, pivoting about fixed shaft 122, a rise 124 in the cam 120 causes the web W to be drawn along the ramp a substantially fixed distance greater than what is needed to enfold the article in the web, thus providing an underlap for each succeeding article which is substantially constant. When the underlap roll 36 reaches the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1 the follower 118 reaches a point 126 on the cam 120 which provides a substantial dwell in the associated linkage mechanism. However, there is provided a very slight downward motion of the underlap roll 36 in orderto maintain a tensioning force on the web, during the variable period in which the knife 37 may be actuated to sever the partially wrapped web as hereinabove described.

It will thus be noted that the points of maximum depression of the cam 94 and the dwell 126 of the cam 120 are advanced to their associated followers 96 and 118 respectively at substantially the same time in the machine cycle. With this arrangement the length of web between the point at which it will be cut by the knife 37 and the detection station 38 is substantially constant. Thus, no matter when during this period of time, as reflected by the angular motion of the cams, the web is cut its free end when suspended at the infeed station will be in substantially the same relation thereto as well as the printed panel which is to be positioned on the next succeeding article.

After the web is cut by the knife 37 the follower 118 passes to a further rise 124 on the cam 120 to move the underlap roll rapidly downwardly and thereby facilitate suspension of the free end of the web W in the dotted position shown in Fig. 1.

This last-named position of the web is also shown in Fig. 5 wherein various elements of the web feed and infeed station are diagrammatically depicted. Web W bears against an edge of a platform 130 at the infeed station 22 which is spaced outwardly of the end of the ramp 20 as defined by a roll 132. Thus the web is angular'ly disposed at the infeed station and inclined toward the forward upper edge of an article being displaced towards the elevator 28 by the pusher 26. For purposes of illustration rectangular articles are shown in Fig. 5. These articles, again for purposes of illustration, have greatly varying heights to illustrate that the described arrangement of the angular disposition of the free end of web W enables the panel printed on the web to be positioned on the article proportionately to its height. It will be apparent that the lowest article when engaged with the back up plate 28 increases very slightly the distance from the edge of the platform 130 to the roll 132 whereas this distance is greatly increased by the highest package depicted and, of course, the full line position illustrated is intermediate of the highest and lowest positions. At any event the increase in distance between the edge of the platform 130 and roll 132 as it passes around the upper edge of the article, which increase is proportionate to the height of the article, causes the web to be drawn upwardly since there is not sufficient pull thereon to draw the web along the platform 20 until the web is confined between the article and the back up plate 30 at which time the panel has already been positioned on the article proportionately to its height in an exceedingly simple manner.

Referring to Figs. 6, 7 and 8 the effect provided by the inclined disposition of the web is readily apparent when it is noted that the left hand end of the panel is not in a fixed point with respect to the left hand side of the article but drops progressively lower from the largest article illustrated in Fig. 6 to the smallest article illustrated in Fig. 8 with an intermediate position being shown in Fig. 7.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as novel and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In an article wrapping machine having means for wrapping the leading end of a continuous web of sheet material about the girth of an article, said web having printed panels to be positioned in a desired relation with respect to successive articles regardless of variations in their girths and indicia in fixed relation respectively to each printed panel, the combination of means for cutting off the leading end of the web after it has been at least partially wrapped around the girth of the article, a detection station spaced from said cut off means and having means for sensing the passage of an indicium on the web, means operative in response to a sensing by the detection station for actuating the cut off means, and a second means for actuating said out off means to limit the amount of web wrapped around each article in case the firstnamed actuating means fails to actuate the cut off means.

2. In an article wrapping machine having means for wrapping the leading end of a continuous web of sheet material about the girth of an article, said web having printed panels to be positioned in a desired relation with respect to successive articles regardless of variations in their girths and indicia in fixed relation respectively to each printed panel, the combination of an infeed station to which articles to be wrapped are presented, means for disposing the leading end of the web in the infeed station to which articles to be wrapped are presented, means for disposing the leading end of the web in the infeed station with a printed panel in predetermined relationship to said station and further disposed at an angle inclined toward an upper edge of each article presented, a back up plate toward which the article is moved to press the web thereagainst, and means for so moving the article whereby it will engage the web and lift itupwardly thus positioning the printed panel of the web on the article proportionately to its height.

3. In an article wrapping machine having means for wrapping an article in the leading end of a continuous web of sheet material, a platform over which the web passes to suspend the leading end thereof at an infeed station to which articles are presented for wrapping, said web having printed panels to be positioned in a desired relation with respect to successive articles regardless of variations in their girth and indicia in fixed relation respectively to each printed panel, an elevator having a back up plate, means for displacing an article from the infeed station inwardly onto the elevator to confine the web against the back up plate, means for raising the elevator to the discharge station, a knife beneath the discharge station for severing the web ex-- tending therefrom, a detection station spaced from the knife and comprising'a light-sensitive cell for sensingthe passage of'an indicium along said platform, and means operative in response to the sensing of said lightsensitive cell for actuating said knife to sever said web so that it may again be suspended at the infeed station with a printed panel in predetermined relation thereto. p

4. In an article wrapping machine having means for wrapping an article in the leading end of a continuous web of sheet material, a platform over which the web passes to suspend the leading end thereof at an infeed station to which articles are presented for wrapping, said web having printed panels to be positioned in a desired relation with respect to successive articles regard less of variations in their girth and indicia in fixed relation respectively to each printed panel, a pivoted elevator having a back up plate, means for displacing an article from the infeed station inwardly onto the elevator to confine the web against the back up plate, means for raising the elevator to a discharge station, a movable underwrap roll about which the web passes as the elevator moves to the discharge station, a knife beneath the discharge station for severing the web extending from said discharge station, a detection station spaced from the knife and comprising a light-sensitive cell for sensing the passage of an indicium along said platform, means operative in response to the sensing of said light-sensitive cell for actuating said knife, and means for moving the underwrap roll downwardly to draw the web along said ramp after the elevator has moved toward the discharge station and then maintain a tensioning force on the web for a substantial period of time during which the knife is actuated and thereafter accelerate saidrollin a downward direction to bring the free end of the severed web into its proper position at the infeed station with a printed panel in predetermined relation thereto.

5. In an article wrapping machine having means for wrapping an article in the leading end of a continuous web of sheet material having printed panels to be positioned in a desired relation with respect to successive articles regardless of variations in their girth and indicia in fixed relation respectively to each panel, a platform over which the web passes and is suspended therefrom, an infeed station below said ramp and spaced out wardly therefrom, said web extending from said ramp to said infeed station and at an angle thereto, a pivoted elevator having a back up plate also spaced outwardly of said ramp, means for displacing an article from the infeed station inwardly onto the elevator, the upper edge of said article first engaging the angularly disposed web and raising it upwardly until the web is confined against the back up plate thus positioning the printed panel thereon proportionately to the height of the article, means for raising the elevator to a discharge station, a

knife beneath the discharge station for severing the web extending therefrom, a detection station spaced from the knife and comprising a light-sensitive cell for sensing the passage of an indicium along said platform, and means operative in response to the sensing of said light-sew.

- successive articles regardless of variations in their girth and indicia in fixed relation respectively to each printed panel, a pivoted elevator having a back up plate, means for displacing an article from the infeed station inwardly onto the elevator to confine the web against the back up plate, means for raising the elevator to a dischargev station, means for displacing the article outwardly from the elevator at the discharge station, a knife beneath the discharge station for severing the web extending therefrom, a detection station spaced from the knife and comprising a light-sensitive cell for sensing the passage of an indicium along said platform, means operative in response to the sensing of said light-sensitive cell for actuating said knife and means independent of said detection station for actuating said knife upon failure of the first-named knife actuating means to sever said web within a given portion of the cycle of the machine.

7. In an article Wrapping machine having means for wrapping an article in the leading end of a continuous web of said material, a platform over which the Web passes to suspend the leading end thereof at an infeed station to which articles are presented for wrapping, said web having printed panels to be positioned in a desired relation with respect to successive articles regardless of variations in their girth and indicia in fixed relation respectively to each printed panel, a pivoted elevator having a back up plate, means for displacing an article from the infeed station inwardly onto the elevator to confine the web against the back up plate, means for raising the elevator to a discharge station, means for displacing the article outwardly from the elevator at the discharge station, a knife beneath the discharge station for severing the web extending therefrom, a detection station spaced from the knife and comprising a light-sensitive cell for sensing the passage of an indicium along said platform, and means operative in response to the sensing of said light-sensitive cell for actuating said knife, said actuating means comprising a cam and a follower bearing thereagainst, said follower being connected through a lever arrangement to said knife to actuate said knife when movement of the follower is permitted by said cam, said cam having a variation in its contour which permits said movement during a substantial portion of its angular travel, latch means normally preventing said follower movement, and a solenoid actuated in response to a sensing by said light-sensitive cell to displace said latch means and allow operative movement of said follower and lever to permit actuation of said knife during a variable period as controlled by the extent of variation in said cam contour whereby the web is each time severed so that it will be suspended at the infeed station with a printed panel in predetermined relation thereto regardless of the girth of the article previously wrapped.

8. In an article wrapping machine having means for wrapping an article in the leading end of a continuous web of sheet material, a platform over which the web passes to suspend the leading end thereof at an infeed station to which articles are presented for wrapping, said web having printed panels to be positioned in a desired relation with respect to successive articles regardless of variations in their girth and indicia in fixed relation to each printed panel, a pivoted elevator having a back up plate, means for displacing the article from the infeed station inwardly onto the elevator to confine the web against the back-up plate, means for raising the elevator to a discharge station, means for displacing the article outwardly from the elevator at the discharge station, a rotatably mounted underlap roll about which the web passes as the elevator moves toward the discharge station, a knife beneath the discharge station for severing the web extending therefrom, a detection station spaced from the knife and comprising a light-sensitive cell for sensing the passage of an indicium along said platform, cam-controlled means operative in response to the sensing of said light-sensitive cell for actuating said knife, a cam for controlling movement of said underlap roll, and a follower bearing against said cam and connected through a linkage arrangement to said underlap roll, said cam having a surface variation which causes the underlap roll to move rapidly in a downward direction after the elevator has moved toward the discharge station, said cam then having a portion which moves the underlap roll downwardly a very slight amount sufficient merely to maintain a tensioning force on the web for a substantial period of time during which the knife is actuated, said cam further having a second surface variation which causes the underlap roll to move rapidly downwardly after the web has been severed to bring the free end of the web into its proper position at the infeed station with a printed panel in a predetermined relation thereto.

9. In an article wrapping machine having a fixed machine cycle providing means for wrapping the leading end of a continuous web of sheet material about the girth of an article, said web having printed panels to be positioned in a desired relation with respect to successive articles regardless of variations in their girth and indicia in fixed relation respectively to each printed panel, the combination of means for cutting off the leading end of the web after it has been at least partially wrapped about the girth of an article, a detection station spaced from said cut off means and having means for sensing the passage of an indicium on the web, means operative in response to a sensing by the detection station for actuating the cut off means during a fixed portion of the machine cycle, means for preventing operation of said actuating means during the remainder of said machine cycle, and a second means for actuating said cut off means to limit the amount of web wrapped about each article in case the first-named actuating means fails to actuate the cut off means thereby providing for each article wrapped a maximum overlap so that the indicia will be assured of passing beneath the detection station at a time during which the first-named actuating means may operate in the given portion of the machine cycle.

10. A wrapping machine having means for wrapping an article in the leading end of a web of sheet material having printed panels to be positioned in desired relation with respect to successive articles regardless of variations in their girth and indicia in fixed relation respectively to each printed panel, the combination of vertically movable means for pulling a length of web therearound from a web supply, means for severing said web after it has been at least partially wrapped around an article, a detection station spaced from the severing means, means for actuating said severing means and means for maintaining said pulling means in a predetermined vertical position for a substantial time interval, said actuating means being operative at any time within said interval in response to detection of the passage of an indicium past the detection station so that the distance along said web between the detection station and the severing means around said pulling means is substantially constant each time the severing means is actuated whereby a printed panel is positioned in a desired relation with a successive article regardless of the girth of a preceding article.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,127,028 Hayssen Aug. 16, 1938 2,347,560 Hoppe Apr. 25, 1944 

